Lamar: So what can be done to convince voters that
the law is not perfect but still in the state’s best interest and
related to that, just speak a little bit about Medicaid expansion
because, you know, we’re still one of the few states that’s still
holding out on this, and it seems like every day you read a story about
how our health care system is in crisis in Louisiana. And recently there
was that story about the Office of Group Benefits and state retirees
potentially losing some of their health care benefits. Just curious if
you could talk a little bit about the economic and moral consequences of
refusing to expand Medicaid and more broadly the Affordable Care Act.

Landrieu: OK. It’s a big question, so let’s start
with Medicaid first. Independent analysis has shown that the State of
Louisiana and Governor Jindal have refused about $16 billion in support
for the health care industry, meaning that he has said no to jobs and
growth and development, because that is what expanding health insurance
to people who work with 100% federal support would do.

Independent studies show that it would create 15,000 jobs. It would
sustain thousands of other jobs. And it would impact our economy in a
ten-year period at $16 billion in a positive way.